The latest exhibition in the Crypt Gallery, Bloom, presents works by Rachael Cocker and Emily Leason created during their residencies at Norwich School. The exhibition runs from 21st April until 3rd May and is open Tuesday to Friday 11am – 4pm and Saturday 11am – 3pm.
Rachael Cocker is a Designer, Maker and Illustrator working in Norwich. She graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2015 with a first class degree in Illustration. She also makes work under the alias Herbert Green and enjoys making playful designs using a range of analogue processes. Her collection is entitled ‘Garlands: A floral celebration of the handmade’ which is a series of ceramics, textiles and screen prints. Of the exhibition Rachael says ‘I am intrigued by the endless representation of flowers in design, craft and folk art and so decided to take this well-trodden path to design my own collection of floral designs and patterns. Developed from immediate, gestural drawings and painterly marks, these designs express the spontaneity and energy which can only be achieved through making by hand. The bold, blue, abstracted flower forms were determined by surrendering to the drips, splashes, smudges, brush strokes and grainy crayon lines and playfully embracing these qualities. Moving across the three surfaces of clay, paper and fabric, this collection embodies the joy I find in making.’ Rachael is thankful she’s been able to develop her skills, particularly in printmaking and ceramics, thanks to the excellent facilities and technician support the school has offered her.
Emily Leason is a Textile Designer specialising in printed textiles. She graduated in 2016 from Norwich University of The Arts with a degree in textiles. In December 2016 she won the Van Dal NFW Shoe Competition whereby her textile design was printed as a limited edition for the company and showcased at Norwich Fashion Week. The shoes are now available to purchase online at the Van Dal website and in store at Jarrolds. In this exhibition Emily presents her new collection of Textile designs ‘Tropical Dreams’ a series of printed, hand painted and manipulated fabrics. Emily takes inspiration from the Caribbean, jungle edge and tropical landscape expressing lively forms of plants, flowers and wildlife. The following textile designs embrace vivid colour, the exotic, fun-loving, modern and uplifting design. Emily said “As a Textile Designer I aim to create work that has a positive, uplifting influence. I am inspired by nature, the use of colour and human behaviour, all of which play a part in my creating of work.”